Estimates of water use in the United States indicate that about 408
billion gallons per day (one thousand million gallons per day,
abbreviated Bgal/d) were withdrawn for all uses during 2000.
This total has varied less than 3 percent since 1985 as
withdrawals have stabilized for the two largest
uses—thermoelectric power and irrigation.Fresh
ground-water withdrawals (83.3 Bgal/d) during 2000 were 14
percent more than during 1985. Fresh surface-water withdrawals
for 2000 were 262 Bgal/d, varying less than 2 percent since
1985.

About 195 Bgal/d, or 48 percent of all freshwater and saline-water
withdrawals for 2000, were used for thermoelectric power. Most
of this water was derived from surface water and used for
once-through cooling at power plants. About 52 percent of fresh
surface-water withdrawals and about 96 percent of saline-water
withdrawals were for thermoelectric-power use. Withdrawals for
thermoelectric power have been relatively stable since 1985.

Irrigation remained the largest use of freshwater in the United
States and totaled 137 Bgal/d for 2000. Since 1950, irrigation
has accounted for about 65 percent of total water withdrawals,
excluding those for thermoelectric power. Historically, more
surface water than ground water has been used for
irrigation. However, the percentage of total irrigation
withdrawals from ground water has continued to increase, from 23
percent in 1950 to 42 percent in 2000. Total irrigation
withdrawals were 2 percent more for 2000 than for 1995, because
of a 16-percent increase in ground-water withdrawals and a
small decrease in surface-water withdrawals. Irrigated acreage
more than doubled between 1950 and 1980, then remained constant
before increasing nearly 7 percent between 1995 and 2000. The
number of acres irrigated with sprinkler and microirrigation
systems has continued to increase and now comprises more than
one-half the total irrigated acreage.

Public-supply withdrawals were more than 43 Bgal/d for
2000. Public-supply withdrawals during 1950 were 14
Bgal/d. During 2000, about 85 percent of the population in the
United States obtained drinking water from public suppliers,
compared to 62 percent during 1950. Surface water provided 63
percent of the total during 2000, whereas surface water
provided 74 percent during 1950.

Self-supplied industrial withdrawals totaled nearly 20 Bgal/d in
2000, or 12 percent less than in 1995. Compared to 1985,
industrial self-supplied withdrawals declined by 24
percent. Estimates of industrial water use in the United States
were largest during the years from 1965 to 1980, but during
2000, estimates were at the lowest level since reporting began
in 1950. Combined withdrawals for self-supplied domestic,
livestock, aquaculture, and mining were less than 13 Bgal/d for
2000, and represented about 3 percent of total withdrawals.

California, Texas, and Florida accounted for one-fourth of all water
withdrawals for 2000. States with the largest surface-water
withdrawals were California, which had large withdrawals for
irrigation and thermoelectric power, and Texas, which had large
withdrawals for thermoelectric power. States with the largest
ground-water withdrawals were California, Texas, and Nebraska,
all of which had large withdrawals for irrigation.